Container storage stilt means



March 11, 1969 J. J. MARTIN 3,432,131

CONTAINER STORAGE STILT MEANS Filed Dec. 16, 1966 Inventor John J. Martin United States Patent Ofitice 3,432,131 Patented Mar. 11, 1969 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container storage stilt structure comprising four identical supports for supporting a container at each of its four corners, each support being provided with a vertical support brace for engaging the respective corner portion of the container and including a container sup port pad; the container storage stilt support further comprising an upright leg element having a pivotal foot and pivotally connected to the upper part of the corner support brace and adjustably connected to the container corner supper brace to determine the angle between the support brace and the leg element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention container which has been removed from the vehicle. Such storage. is accomplished by container stilt arrangements. It is this field of art to which the invention pertains.

(2) Description of the prior art Heretofore various devices have been utilized for supporting a body, cargo container, or the like and various apparatus have been used for stabilizing or adjustably supporting such units, containers or cartons and the like. But, the state of the entire art heretofore known has failed to devise a supporting device or arrangement which may be readily adjustable and may be used in various locations on the object or container or may be used in conjunction with other similar or identical type of supporting units or stilts whereby the container may be supported by its corner castings and wherein the container storage stilt may be adjusted in accordance with the height or other dimension of the container and in accordance to the elevation of the ground. The invention proposes to solve the problem of having a stilt arrangement for containers which may be readily adapted to containers of various size and may be used in various areas regardless of the unevenness of the terrain upon which the item is to be supported.

SUMMARY The invention relates to a container storage stilt arrangement or to a storage stilt or the like that may be used at various positions on the container which may be used in conjunction with other similar or same type of stilt units for supporting the container in a plurality of places along the container. Each such stilt unit may be able to support the container regardless of the unevenness of the terrain upon which the container is to be stored. The novel stilt arrangement herein disclosed also may be adjustable for supporting various size containers and is provided with adjusting screw means to compensate for the different ground height. The invention further comprehends means for engaging with the bottom hole in the corner casting of the container. Although these are some of the advantages, purposes and objects of the invention, from a reading of the following disclosure and drawing other objects, advantages and purposes will become clear.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container employing the novel inventive stilt means;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view of one of the novel stilt means of the invention taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the novel and inventive stilt means of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2.

Description of the preferred embodiment With reference now to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawing there is shown a container 2 having right and left longitudinally extending sides 3 and 4 and fore and aft end walls 5 and 6 forming a rectangularly shaped container. The container may be of a type that is carried by a trailer, pulled by a tractor and wherein such container may be moved from the trailer to a railroad fiat car or it may be placed aboard a ship for sea travel or it may be placed aboard a cargo airplane.

As seen in FIG. 2 each corner 8 of the container 2 at the bottom thereof is provided with a corner casting 10. The corner casting 10 is provided with an. opening 11 for receiving a pin therethrough which may be attached to some container lifting device or attached to, as in the instant case, the novel stilt means or arrangement of the invention, said stilt means being designated by numeral 12.

It is seen that the container 2 is supported by four of these container storage stilts 12, each stilt 12 normally being at an angle with the container walls 3, 4, 5 or 6, as seen in FIG. 2 and also if viewed from the top of the container 2 it will be noted that each stilt 12 radiates out from the corner to form a 45 degree angle from the container walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 at the container corners 8. This permits maximum stability and provides for self stabilizing requiring no additional bracing of the container arrangement.

Each stilt unit 12 comprises a vertically extending container brace element 14 which in plan cross section is right angle shaped as seen in FIGS. 3 or 4 and having brace walls 14a and 141) which extend as shown in FIG. 2 from a position up from the bottom 3a of the container to a position slightly below the bottom 3a of the container 2. A container support block or pad 16 is fixedly attached to each wall or leg portion 14a and 14b of the brace element 14 and rests against and supports each corner casting 10 of the container 2 and thereby the container 2. The support pad 16 carries an upwardly extending pin 18 which projects through the opening 11 in the corner casting 10. The upper end 20 of the brace element 14 is provided with a horizontally extending bracket 22b which pivotally carries a stilt leg 24 by means of pin 26. The stilt leg forms an elongated structure extending from the brace 14 to the ground 27, as shown in FIG. 2. It is to be noted that the outside surface 28 of the leg 24 is at an angle with the outer face 14a of the brace element 14 to give necessary support to the container 2. The leg 24 comprises the elongated plate 28 and the side gusset plates 32 and 34, the plates 32 and 34 forming with the plate 28 a U-shaped structure in cross section. The lower end of each gusset plate 32 and 34 carries a pivot pin 36 which pivotally attaches the leg portion to its upright pedestal or foot or base 33 which allows pivoting of the leg part 24 to adjust or position the container for storage purposes.

Intermediate the pivots 36 and 26, there is provided an adjusting screw means 40 including a rod 42 which extends through the back plate 28 of the leg part 24. The rod 42 has a threaded end portion 44 about which is threaded nut 46 having turning arms 48 for positioning against the back plate 28. To adjust the angular position of the leg 24 with the brace 14, the inner end 50 of the rod 42 being pivotally attached by pivot means or pin 52 to the lower end 54 of the brace 14. The end 50 of the rod 42 is bifurcated having ears 50a and 50b. The lower end 54 of the brace 14 has a web 54a extending out between the ears 50a and 50b and held thereto by the pin 52 which extends through the portions 50a, 50b and 54a.

It is thus seen that there is provided a container stilt arrangement where a stilt means 12 is located at each corner of the container, each stilt means or leg radiating out from the container corner at a 45 degree angle with either side of the container forming the corner as would be viewed from the top of the container supported by the four stilt arrangement. Each stilt means 12 has its pin 18 engaged in the hole in the bottom face of the corner fitting or casting and the adjusting screw adjusts the angular relation between the leg 24 and the upright brace 14 of each stilt means 12. The leg 24 is pivotally connected to the brace 14 by the pivot means 26 and by the adjusting screw 40 which is pivotally attached to the brace 14 by pivot 52 and to the leg 24 by the nut 46 and each leg has a swivel foot 36 standing on the ground. The adjusting screw compensates for difference in ground height. It is thus seen that there is provided a simple and etfective stilt arrangement comprising a plurality of stilts for supporting a container, box or the like.

The foregoing description and drawing are given merely to explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not to be limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein Without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container storage stilt means comprising:

a leg having upper and lower ends,

a container upright brace having an upper and lower part and adapted to fit against the vertical edge of the corner of a container, the upper part of the brace being pivotally connected to the upper end of said leg and the lower part of said brace being provided with a container support including a pin projecting upwardly for reception in the bottom corner casting of a container,

screw means disposed intermediate of said leg ends and extending through said leg and connected therewith and having an end portion pivotally connected with the lower part of said brace, and

means on said screw means for adjusting the angular displacement of said leg away from and relative to said upright brace, the lower end of said leg being provided with a pivotally connected pedestal for support of said leg when attached to a ground sup ported container.

2. In combination with a container a plurality of removable container support means for supporting a container at the respective corners of the container,

which support means comprises a support having a removable container brace portion for engagement with and supporting said container and a leg portion for support by the ground,

the upper portions of the leg and brace being pivotally connected to one another and the intermediate portions of said leg being provided with adjustable screw means being connected with the lower portions of said brace for adjusting the angular connection with said leg portion and said brace portion, said adjustable screw means being provided with means out- Cir wardly of the leg for drawing the leg toward said brace.

3. The invention according to claim 2, and

said lower end of said brace being provided with a container support pad including a pin for removable extension into the opening of an associated container corner casting.

4. The invention according to claim 2, and

the lower end of said leg being provided with a pivotal foot for adjustably supporting the angular relationship of the leg with respect to the ground.

5. In combination with a container having a plurality of corner castings, a plurality of container su port means, one for each container corner casting, said container support means comprising a stilt leg and a removable container corner brace,

said brace being adapted to fit in said corner and having a lower support for said corner casting, said brace having an upper end pivotally connected to said leg, said leg extending therefrom and being provided with adjusting means for setting the angular relationship between said leg and said brace, said adjusting means being pivotally connected to the lower end of said brace and adjustable with said leg, the lower end of said leg being provided with pivotal foot means, said adjusting means having means on the outside of said leg for drawing said leg toward said brace.

6. Stilt apparatus of the character disclosed for storing a container comprising a plurality of supporting units each of which comprises:

a removable bracket having a pair of upright Walls at angles to one another for abutting against the upright corner surfaces of the container and a supporting leg,

each of said pair of walls having a bottom plate for removably supporting the bottom corner casting of said container,

the upper part of said bracket being provided with means for pivotally connecting with the associated leg, and adjusting means intermediately connected on said leg and pivotally connected with the lower end of said bracket for adjusting the angular relation between the leg and said pair of walls, said adjusting means having means on the outside of said leg for drawing the leg toward said removable bracket, each leg extending outwardly of each corner container at an angle to the walls of the container for stabilizing said container.

7. The invention according to claim 6, and

said leg having a back wall for receiving said adjusting means which is coupled to the lower end of said pair of walls of said brace.

8. A container storage stilt means comprising:

a leg having upper and lower ends,

a removable container brace having an upper and lower end and adapted to fit into the vertical edge of the corner of a container, the upper part of the brace being pivotally connected to the upper part of said leg and the lower part of said brace being provided with a container support,

rigid adjustable means disposed intermediate of said leg ends and extending through said leg and connected therewith and having an end portion pivotally connected with said brace for adjusting the angular relation between said leg and said brace, said rigid adjustment means having screw means on the outside of the leg for drawing the leg toward and away from the brace.

9. The invention according to claim 8, and

said container support including pin means projecting therefrom for reception in the bottom of a container.

10. The invention according to claim 8, and

said leg extending below said brace effective to elevate said container above the ground.

11. The invention according to claim 8, and

the lower end of said leg being provided with a pivotally connected pedestal for support of said leg.

12. Stilt apparatus of the character disclosed for storing a container comprising a plurality of supporting units each of which comprise:

a bracket having a pair of upright walls at angles to one another for abutting against the upright corner surfaces of the container and supporting leg,

each of said pair of walls having a bottom plate for supporting the bottom corner casting of said container,

the upper part of said bracket being provided with means for pivotally connecting with the associated leg, and adjusting means on said leg and pivotally connected with the lower end of said bracket for adjusting the angular relation between the leg and said pair of walls,

said leg being U shaped in cross section and having a back wall for receiving said adjusting means which is coupled to the lower end of said pair of walls of said brace.

13. A container storage stilt means comprising:

a leg having upper and lower ends,

a container upright brace having an upper and lower part and adapted to fit against the vertical edge of the corner of a container, the upper part of the brace being pivotally connected to the upper end of said leg and the lower part of said brace being provided with a container support including a pin projecting upwardly for reception in the bottom corner casting of a container,

screw means disposed intermediate of said leg ends and extending through said leg and connected therewith and having an end portion pivotally connected with the lower part of said brace, and

means on said screw means for adjusting the angular displacement of said leg away from and relative to said upright brace.

14. ,The invention according to claim '6, and

said leg having a wall for receiving said adjusting means which is coupled to the lower end of said pair. of walls of said brace.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,800,148 4/1931 Mahoney et a1. 248-188.8 2,436,799 3/1948 Frost 1887 2,913,207 11/1959 Eash 248-448 2,975,933 3/1961 Abolins 248188.8 XR 3,180,601 4/1965 Belt 248-151 3,186,570 7/1965 Bunnell 214-515 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

US Cl. X.R. 

